Pumpkin?

[clemson55]

Maybe its just me but Beer + Pumpkin = tastes like crap. I am seeing all these pumpkin threads and its ridiculous, I have tried several pumpkin beers and they always taste the same, like crap. I just wonder how many of them might have been decent but weren't because of that pumpkin. I honestly think about 1/2 the people making pumpkin beers are thinking it will be cool and everyone else is doing it and probably haven't even had one. So I just wanted to try and see how many people are making one or not and have had pumpkin beers before.

 

[Soulive]

I've brewed/drank pumpkin beers and I'll continue to drink commercial pumpkin beers. I love the combination when done properly. I think the two key aspects are having a solid base recipe and then balanced spicing. If your base recipe wouldn't be good on its own, adding spice won't make it work. If you don't know how to balance/control the spice level, you can ruin any base recipe. The best commercial example I've had is Southampton's, which is balanced. The worst I have had is Buffalo Bill's, which is way too sweet. Brewing pumpkin beer was my way of learning to spice beers. I think everyone should try it at least once...

 

[Rottnme]

The best commercial example I've had is Southampton's, which is balanced. The worst I have had is Buffalo Bill's, which is way too sweet. QUOTE]

I disagree here. I like BB's because I like the cinnamon/nutmeg thing they have going. I haven't tried Southampton's but the Lakefront is always just okay to me.

It took me many years of trying to find one that I like but and I find that ALL of them very greatly from year to year. My advise: If you don't like em, dont' waste your time and effort but do keep trying them. For me part of the fun of beer tasting and now brewing is to continually expose my palate to new and different things. Even if I don't think I will like a beer, I will often try it just to try to understand what it is that I don't like. I see it as the only way to learn, sometimes I'm even suprised.

 

[eschatz]

I keep trying those damn things and they never seem to disappoint. They always taste something between pumpkin pie and gingerbread cookies. I cant taste any pumpkin at all! I know there are different kinds but all of the commerical ones that I encounter just piss me off. I'm waiting for someone to brew a tasty one.

 

[kniles38]

I made two last year. An Amber (recommended by my crappy LHBS) and a brown (recommended by SWMBO). They both sucked and took up taps on until well into spring.

 

[beesy]

Really didn't get 'into' beer until 2 or so years ago. Last years I drank every pumkin and harvest/autumn beer i could find. Absolutley love fall beers!!! The only one i haven't had that i can find in columbus, oh is the southern tier pumking, which i am picking up tomorrow. I also brewed 2 different batches about 3-4 weeks ago. Going to do 2 more small batch ones (3 gall) in the next two weeks. I am not a fan of the over spiced, over the top ones that taste like pie in a bottle, but think a subtle pumkin and spice flavor is nice. for my recipe i formulated, i used 45 oz libby canned pumkin with very little spice. used 2 row, munich, 60degree and wheat. 1.062og, 1.017 fg and this one looks promising!!!! I LOVE FALL BEERS, BRECKENRIDGE AUTUMN ALE IS IN MY TOP 3 ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rockin::rockin::rockin: